Odd Swelling.....any suggestions??

[scotsmare]

Ok, so the eternally lame loan horse is well, still lame. However, it now appears like a different injury / problem. So, before I tear anymore of my hair out does anyone have any idea what this might be? Fore leg, no obvious signs of injury / trauma. Previously did suspensory ligament on this leg but scanned fine two weeks ago. Leg swollen length of cannon bone from knee to fetlock but on the INSIDE of the leg only, minimal swelling to the outside. Going to phone vet tomorrow but any suggestions?

 

[ajn1610]

Very Odd! You have the metacarpals (splint bones), Suspensory ligaments, palmar nerves and deep digital flexor tendon in that vague location but can't think of anything that would make the entire area swell unless it was an infection of the tendon sheath but that would be obvious.as it would be very lame poorly horse. I'm assuming there is no heat as you have said no trauma/injury. There is also an artery (medial palmar) so maybe just an increase in blood flow associated with healing the old injury? Is the swelling soft? I'd be very interested to hear what the vet says.

 

[LM59]

This may be no use whatsoever, but I had a similar problem with a retired gelding this week. One day he had a swollen sheath- vet said to see what happened. Two days later, his front near fore was very swollen knee to fetlock on the inside(no obvious heat). I had the vet out and thankfully it seems it was because he has been lazy for a few days (he's out 24hrs) and has a fluid build up. Been on bute for 4 days, and all signs completely gone. We think his arthritis may have been playing up, so he was just not moving around enough. Hope yours is this easily solved, and sorry if no help!

 

[scotsmare]

There is a heat, but nothing spectacular. She's out grazing and would have thought that if she'd done tendon etc then whole area would have been swollen rather than just the inside of the leg. This is driving me crazy!!

LM59 - thanks for your suggestions - glad your horse is better.

 

[ajn1610]

She has probably been up all night figuring out ways to freak you out! Hope she is OK let us know how you get on!

 

[scotsmare]

Wouldn't bloody surprise me - you've no idea the vets bills this horse has run up in the last month - approx £2k now - and she's not even mine!!!

 

[Horseyscot]

this might sound really stupid but no chance it could be a bite or sting, possibly even an adder?

 

[scotsmare]

There's nothing visible on the leg at all (it was recently clipped by vet for scanning). Tis strange and v. bloody annoying!

 

[Horseyscot]

mmm tough one. let us know what vet says.